(Coley) Department of State, Washington, January 14, 1871. His Excellency Manuel Gautier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic The Congress of the United States having authorized the President to appoint three Commissioners and a secretary to the commission, to proceed to the Dominican Republic for the purpose of making certain inquiries more particularly set forth in the resolution of the President has appointed as such commissioners three distinguished citizens of the United States, Benjamin Jr. Wade, Esq., of the state of Ohio, Andrew D. White, Esq., of the state of New York, and Samuel T, Howe, Esq., of the state of Massachusetts, and has also appointed Allan A Burton, Esq., of the State of Kentucky, to be the Secretary to the Commission. The Commissioners will inform you of the object audand Scope of the resolution of Congress under which they have been appointed, and will solicit, so far as may be proper, the Confederation of the Dominican Government in enabling them to faithfully perform the duties with which they are entrusted. They will sail from New York, in the United States man of war Tennessee, and will remain on the Island of San Domingo until they have completed the examination which they are instructed to make. His Commission is accompanied by a staff of Scientific examiners, (who will be presented to you by the Commissioners) and in whose behalf, your kind offices are invoked. I avail myself of this occasion to offer to Your Excellency, the assurance of my most distinguished consideration Hamilton Fish(Copy) Executive Mansion Washington, D.C., Jany. 15. 1871. His Excellency, B. Baez. Pres. Republic of San Domingo Sir: In accordance with a joint resolution of the two houses of the Congress of the United States, I have appointed these distinguished citizens of the United States, towit: Hon. B. Wade, many years a Senator, President A. D. White, Cornell University, and Dr. S. G. Howe, distinguished for his philanthropy, learning and services in relieving the blind and mute of much of the monotony of life, natural to their infirmities, by opening to them the world of letters, as Commissioners to visit the Republic of Santo Domingo, and to obtain the information called for by the resolution. Associated with the Commission is also [Magr?]. A. A. Burton, Secretary to the Same, a gentleman who [*2289*]who has honored his Country by serving it in a diplomatic capacity. I beg to introduce these gentlemen and to ask for them your kind offices. With Great respect, Your obedient servant, (Signed) U. S. Grant.President Grant. Autograph letter accrediting the Commissions Assoc Secretary to President Baez.Santo Domingo January 1871 Sir: The undersigned have the honor to advise Your Excellency of our arrival in this capital bearing an autograph letter from the President of the United States addressed to the President of the Republic of Dominica, and will thank you to inform us when His Excellency will be pleased to honor us with the opportunity to present the same, an authentic copy of which we enclose. We have the honor to be, With the highest consideration, Your Excellency's Obedient Servants, His Excellency Señora Don Manuel M. Gautier, Secretary of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Dominica &c. &c.. &c. [*2287*]United States Commission of Inquiry to S. Domingo January 26. 1871. “Resolved: That Frederick Douglas, Esq., be requested to examine and report to the commission regarding the condition of the English speaking immigrants residing in the town of Samaná and the country adjacent with special reference to a schedule of questions to be furnished by the commission. " A copy, Attest, Allan A. Burton Secretary.Memorandum No.1, from Mr. Bassett of the U.S. Legation at Port-Au-Prince Haiti, for Mr. Fredrerick Douglass, Judge Burton, and Honorable B. F. Wade Mr. Stanislas Goutier was appointed U.S. Consul at Cape Haitien, supplanting Mr. Abraham Crosswell who was, up to Mr. Goutier's appointment, our Vice Consul there. Now our Consular officer here at Port-au-Prince has resigned, and it becomes necessary to appoint some suitable person to fill his place. What I wish to accomplish is: (1) to have Mr. Goutier appointed as our permanent Consular officer at Port-au-Prince. Mr. Goutier is willing to resign his Consulate at Cape Haitian for this purpose. (2) to have Mr. Crosswell appointed as our permanent Consular officer at Cape Haitian. Memorandum No. 2. In fulfilling instructions issued to him [*2914*]by this Legation to thwart a hostile movement designed to be put on foot by the insurrectionists in St. Domingo during the presence of our Commissioners there, Mr. Stanislas Goutier, our Consul at Cape Haïtien, incurred an expense of about six hundred dollars ($600) gold. I think he did a really serviceable work, and according to my instructions he has charged this amount to me. I acted in the matter on good information as to facts which demanded immediate attention. I shall be glad if the Government will allow him to draw for this amount. I have already made temporary arrangements in accordance with the requests contained in Memorandum No 1., and I have communicated to the Department of State the requests of both these memorandums E. D. B. U. S. Legation, Port au Prince, March 9, 1871.HON: HAMILTON FISH: SECRETARY OF STATE, OF THE UNITED STATES. SIR: In pursuance of the commission given under your hand, dated January fourteenth 1871 duly appointing me assistant secretary to the commission in relation to the Republic of Dominica, authorized by a resolution of Congress, approved January 12th 1871, I respectfully beg leave to state, that my official relation to the said commission has now ceased. I had the honor to accompany the Commission as directed during their whole time of duration in the West Indies and returned with them to the United States landing at Charleston. Regretting that my services in the capacity authorized by the terms of my appointment were inconsiderable and unimportant, I can nevertheless assure you that such other services in connection with the objects of the mission as the honorable commissioners [???] [fit] were pleased to inquire at my hands were promptly and cheerfully rendered. I am, dear sir, very respectfully your most obedient servant Fredk Douglas Washington DC April 3rd 1871Bridport, May 16 1871 Dear Mr. Douglass, Let me thank you, at once, for your very interesting letter, received this morning. The more personal details contained in a letter from so valued a friend, the better: and you must be joking, when you apologize for writing a long one. My time is not so engrossed, that a quarter of an hour in reading [*2270*] [*When you visit Canada please to remember that my brother Philip lives at Montreal. Your letters reached me, because Bridport is well known; but we are in Dorsetshire, not Lancashire. But you think of Bridgewater and old times..! I have received a National Era then and rightly directed Bridport, England. I Should be very glad if you would come and have some pleasant*]a letter is a loss to me. What I do feel a loss is, when some of my correspondents do (as I fear I do myself ) viz. write illegibly, which you do not! I am interested in what you say of Mr. Collyer, whom I heard in London a month ago. He and Mr. S. J. Macy — one of the most lovable of men - are the preachers who have most interested [by] my brother William, by their transparent sincerity, and warmth of heart. I wrote, a fortnight ago, to Mr. Hardy, after running the National Era which convicted him Last week, I heard from him himself, a long well-written letter but full of the anti-negro feeling which was rife ten years ago He enclosed a letter to [the] a paper, penning his account of the transaction; and evidently thinks himself something of a martyr! I wrote again to him, and I certainly have no expectation of hearing from him any more. With regard to yourself, I told him that I was glad when I travelled [* associations with Bridport -- as you have with Bridgewater! Believe me ever, very faithfully yours, R. L. Carpenter*]in the South, to say that I had had the pleasure of receiving you as my guest, &, & : and -- but you do not wish to read your own praises. It seems that he left England in 1834: so that most of his life has been spent in the South. I am sorry about him. Like some other persons who have a strong feeling of caste, he writes with evident thought and interest in religious matters. The haughty way in which too many Englishmen treat Hindus (who are astonished at the civility they receive when they visit England) shows that we, as a nation, have no immunity from this bad tendency. I am glad that your son has been chosen to succeed you.: and I hopeBridport, June 15, 1871 Dear Mr. Douglass, I hope that, by this time, you have got my article in the Inquirer. It was deferred for a fortnight, or more, owing to pressing matters. Had I delayed it a week or two longer, I might have added one or two of the interesting particulars you give, in your letter of May 26, for the information of your numerous friends, who read the Inquirer. Thank you for the additional numbers of your paper. I gather from one of them, that you are appointed by the President on the Legislative consul and that you [*2293*]have as member of it, the title "Hon!" I suppose it is a peculiar institution of Washington, under new arrangements, and takes the plan of a State [R] House of Representatives, or Senate. Am very glad that you were appointed, even if you find it necessary to resign the post, after a time. I need not say that I hope that your new venture will succeed and if your sons are half as [?ing] as you are, they will make a position for themselves in time. I thought that government had sustained your son, in the official printing office, and am sorry to find that this was a mistake. It is pleasant to think of the three brothers living near & working together. My mother used to quote the saying of her mother -- "A threefold cord is not easily broken" I heard the other day from a Unitarian in your district who knew my father. Mr. Henry Hardy, near Anacostia. He came from this neighborhood, and is, I believe, a Schoolmaster. I told him in a letter I sent last week that if he called at your office, you might perhaps let him see the Inquirer. Thank you for your congratulation on the ratification of the treaty. I have mingled feelings about it. The fear of reprisals from the U.S. has been a motive to us to keep the peace, and helped to quiet the tall talk of those who would have involved us in the late German-French War, or in a war with Russia. Moreover, it isI think a very dangerous precedent to consent to pay damages, for what we declare was not, at the time, a breach of international law. We are punished under a law since made, which in jurisprudence we should consider abominable! But we English rather pride ourselves in following common sense, rather than hope: and it is common sense to get a quarrel put a stop to, and a useful law acknowledged. At the time I, and many others, made indignant protests against the Havana outrages and I am heartily glad that reparation has been made - or is to be made. The opposition of Mr. Sumner & Gen Butler to the Treaty has of course helped its acceptance in England. It was criticised in the House of Lords, pretty sharply, but all parties seemed to agree that it was no use to delay a settlement. While you have so many Irish among you not yet nationalized, and retaining a traditional abhorrence of England, founded on past wrongs, which we are doing our best to redress- I donot expect an entire cordiality between the two countries; but it is most heartily to be desired and I trust that our rulers — and writers will do their best to promote it. Ireland is our trial. You in the U.S. are suffering, as we are at home, from the character of the people — their excellent qualities so often obscured while they follow their priests or their demagogues. I have myself no doubt that Ireland is better formed, as part of the United Kingdom, than it would be by [??] factions: and the Irish [???] Bill and the Land Bill, proposed do justice to Ireland, have incidentally helped measures of justice in England. But I must set to my sermon writing. Very faithfully yours, Rufus L. Carpenter [* 3073 *]Department of State Washington 17th June, 1871. Fredrick Douglass Esq. Washington, D.C. Sir: Your letter to the President of the 6th instant, resigning the position of Member of the Legislative Council of the District of Columbia, for the first District, has been received and accepted, to take effect ten days after the 6th instant. I, am, Sir, Your obedient servant, Hamilton Fish [*2297*]Department of State, U.S.A. Official Business R. S. [Cheny?] Chief Clerk Fredrick Douglass, Esq. Washington, D.C. [*WASHINGTON D.C. JUN 19*] [*2288*]Legislative Assembly In Council June 20, 1871 Hon. Frederick Douglass, Washington D. C. Sir: I am directed by the Council to transmit herewith a copy of a Preamble and Resolutions unanimously passed by the Council today, in view of your retirement from the Council, by resignation. Very respectfully Your obedient Servant F. H. Parrish Chief Clerk [for. W. lm, Mew] Asst Clerk 2290Legislative Assembly of the District of Columbia. IN COUNCIL. June 20. 1871 Whereas, this Council has just been informed by the Honorable member heretofore representing the First Council District of his resignation as a member of this body, therefore be it Resolved: That this Council express its regrets at the necessities which in the opinion of the Honorable Frederick Douglas have induced his resignation; his association having, during its ~ deliberations been most pleasant to each member thereof as well as - profitable to the people he represents. Resolved: That as members of this Council we tender to the retiring member our best wishes and kindest regards for his future happiness and prosperity. Resolved that this preamble and these resolutions be entered on the Journal of the proceedings of this Council. Attests: F. H. Smith Chf. Clerk [*3053*]Private BOH 4950 no. 18 Liberty St N. York July 15 1871 MY DEAR MR. DOUGLAS, Your letter of the 7th inst. is recd. I take your paper because of my regard for you—not because I approve at all of the spirit of your paper— 1st Why should you be the partizan of Grant: who never voted but once I am told & then for J. Buchanan: a man who ignores the leading Republicans and is led by Fish who voted for Hoffman, & Butler who voted for Jeff. Davis—who has promoted but one man <(not a relative)> in the diplomatic service—and that man Bancroft who never was and is not now a republican! Who crushes out liberty in Cuba against the will of a majority of republicans—and who allows killing of American citizens, and continual murder of Cuban Patriots Black & White!—who [????] his office to family [????]—and gives the highestplaces to those who make him presents—a thing never before done by any President! But I have not space for my objections to him. Is there no republicans in all our ranks fit to rule us? if no then we ought to perish as a party—the sooner the better! 2. I cannot approve of the proscriptive course against the South—[illegible] if you please. The the Republicans: Black & White are in a minority (amnesty being granted) in the South—is it our intent to have a [illegible] [illegible] majority against us for centuries? You know parties change rule in this country—now when the national party are in power—and we have shown a spirit of revenge, denunciation, and unconstitutional action against them! 3. The force bill is an iniquity I am not willing to lay all my liberties down at the feet of any man—not for the sake of the Blacks or Whites of the South! In a government like ours we must trust something to the people—we don't want a strong government—but a strong people—a vital people— ready to resist oppression—and to avenge wrong. Some blacks will suffer after a great war—some whites will suffer by more law—we must leave the remedy to the legal normal actions of the states. If this will not or cannot cure the evils—then our republicanism is lost. It would take hours to explain how much I feel that the party is wrong in all this. Greeley or some other man comes with the olive branch—if you refuse him or such for Grant the Dictator with the sword—you declare eternal war upon the South! is this just—or safe? P. S. All Grant’s fight in N. York—is but the contest was of the old Seward traitor party1 against the old Republicans! C. 4. I think the Blacks have gained much by freedom. They should enjoy their great advance with moderation. They should be encouraged to make a living—an independence—and [illegible] to educate themselves in whatever way possible. I regard a pursuit of politics per se—as a great [???] to all of us—and especially to the freed men. It took time to overthrow slavery—and it will take time to build up the freedmen. Let us enter upon the work in a spirit of gratitude to God and good-will to all men—even the late deluded master. I feel sure as I do of my part—that such is the just way, and the only road to success. Wishing you and the race to which I have devoted my life in equal enjoyment of all our rights, I remain as ever your friend C. M. CLAY F. Douglas Esq. Wash. D. Col. Private BOH N. York July 18th 1871 DEAR SIR, Your letter of the 26th is received. I never knew at the time I wrote you that you had a son Frederic—so I overlooked the “jr”. As you say men who have reached one standpoint in life are not to be moved by argument—each no doubt having made up a judgement on all the data presentable. I therefore say only a word in reply: first, that I do not propose to rest my future upon my past—however secure—but so long as I live to feel the same interest in the Blacks—on whose emancipation my fame rests—and to [???] the same measure of success in the future as in the past. First then whilst it would have been good policy as I think to have executed a few leading rebels promptly—it certainly is bad policy to keep up proscription and irritation after all prospect of an aggressive policy is past. In this Govenor Andrews—one of the truest and wisest of our friends agreed with me. I have no fear with you that the fruits of the war are to be lost by a liberal policy towards the South. On the contrary the danger to the Blacks is in the widening the difference between the whites & Blacks—the whites being superior in numbers, and at present in intelligence & wealth in the South. Therefore if Grant comes with the sword, & Greeley or Sumner with the olive branch—I go for the man of “peace.” All experience shows that no party can live long in a free country— and I would the Blacks to show magnanimity to the rebels—that they might in turn in the day of need receive it. With regard to Grant’s nepotism—I wrote hastily—and did not intend to write it with his European appointments: His nepotism here is beyond controversy—and his promotions in the Diplomatic service except the elevation of his brother-in-law was confined so far as I was aware to Bancroft. I have not seen the list nor taken the trouble to look into the details—my purpose was in writing a hasty letter to a friend to note the crimes of the President—and in that I see no reason to change my opinions from what you say about it. With regard to Cuba, I believe as I live that a majority of the American people desired a fair course of neutrality observed between Cuba and her tyrants that Grant & Fish would not allow—and but for the message and influence of Grant against the Republicans moving for Cuban independence—a majority of the Republicans would have done their duty to Cuba! Fish is another of the men voting for Democrats to the last hour; who are now foisted upon us (voting for Hoffman!) and who was mean enough to blackguard the Cuban Patriots after betraying them. Very truly yours, CASSIUS M. CLAY Hon. F. Douglass. Santo Domingo July the 18th 1871, Dear Sir, Your kind favor of the 28th o may came safe to hand on the 28th of June which afforded ineffable pleasure to hear of your good state of health & that of your dear family, as to our part we are happy to say that we enjoy the same greatest of earthly blessings, thank God, we have had the misfortune to lose my step father who departed this life on the 7th of April after an illness of 10 days, we are sorry to hear of the gloomy prospects of annexation, we have had another encontre with the party of general Cabral making the 2nd since you left, he sustained a signal defeat resulting in the lose of more than a hundred killed among whom were many hatiens beside 10 hatien prisoners and 2 Cannon and all of their arms & ammunition, and Cabral barely escaped with his life, these intestine commotions militates much against our Prosperity, if the united states will not accept of us, I think that prussia or England will Succeed in getting possession of this place, as both of them are applicants, the papers you mentioned did not come, for which we are sorry, you have well Said, that perhaps that the people will be too late in making up their mind for our admission into the unions, for our situation does not permit of long delay, and if a european nation becomes the possessor of this country under the circumstances I do not see how the united states will be able to maintain the spirit of the monroe doctrine? "I came to my own and they received me not. So, I returned to the gentiles" The children send their love to you, Albira says, she would like to visit the united states, if the whole family had a plenty of money to go also, Messrs Hamilton, Brooks, Gross & other friends join in kind remembrance to you & Son I Remain your friend Mary [Garcia?] [*124*] [*3052*]C. O. GODFREY, President. W. A. GREENE, Vice President. Geo. H. CRONYN, Rec. Secretary. C. W. A. CARTLIDGE, Cor. Secretary. W. C. FOREMAN, Treasurer. MARTHA W. GREENE, Librarian. Mercantile Library Association, Rooms, No. 110 North Fourth Street. Hannibal, Mo., July 22d 1871. My dear friend, Your favor of the 4th inst. gave us great pleasure, for your unwanted silence had occasioned me much anxiety. Besides, or as a part of that anxiety I was very desirous to have the business part of our relations kept straight, and our failure to get intelligence of you made it seem impraticable to send the money to Washington. Enclosed in this, you will please find post office order for one years interest. I am very sorry to hear you are not well. I had hoped your sea voyage, & the delightful company which must have been so enjoyable would have thoroughly exercised the Dispiptie Demon, which is the bane [of such] to much happiness - I trust your undertaking with you Lous in Washington, will result in a much longer return pecuniarily than you seem to think now, besides rendering them of greater service to the world. It is noteasy to think of you at the pleasant spot in Rochester "boarding" for that does not sound like home but doubtless it is all for the best. I should be glad to know of Rosettas happiness, and the well being of her dear little family. Since you are intending to be in the Lecturing field this winter there is a possibility that we shall have the pleasure of hearing from you, since it is the intention of our Library Ass. to secure a course of first class lectures - and so far as it is posible, we shall use any influence we may have to secure your services amongst the rest. The idea which Wm hinted at in his letter of going East to live, is an exceedingly doubtfulone, and yet as you say, we [are] too old to become wholly identified with Western life, and yet, I am not sure it is not the place for us. We shall be in no haste to change anyway - Gutie's marriage arrangements are not yet matured, tho' there is little doubt her home will be in the Old Bay State - and as we near the "down hill of lie", we naturally look to our native hills, and the old homestead, & think if we could realize enough on our investment here, to purchase that old home, & [since] something will over, perhaps it might be as well but that is in the future at least - Hoping you are improving in health & enjoying yr Summer I am as always very truly Martha W. Greene [*2285*] Rochester July 26 1871 Hon: C. M. Clay MY Dear Sir: I am obliged by your letter of the 15th although I am not the writer of the letter to which it is a reply. Remembering your noble, and I may say, your glorious effort in the strong and perilous past, I was much astonished by what you now seem to regard for you, the path of political duty. The Republican party cannot be broken up at this juncture, without, in my judgment, putting in peril not only the Freedmen of the South, but the honor and safety of the country. In my mind, I had better put a pistol to my head and blow my brains out, than to lend myself in my will to the destruction or the defeat of the Republican party. The facts concerning Gen. Grants voting in the past were well known in 1868—and he was voted for nevertheless. He has proved himself a better Republican than he was supposed to be when he was first nominated and voted for. Though I am a party man I am no man’s partizan. I stand for General Grant while he is the standard bearer of the great party that elected him and I am extremely sorry to find that you cannot see it to be your duty to do the same. If Gen Grant is sorry concerning Cuba—and I think he is, he is in company with Senator Sumner and other great and good men. I am not sure either that killing Grant, would help Cuba. In deciding the question as to who shall receive the nomination in 1872 the whole ground shall be calmly and carefully surveyed. What can be done, should be as carefully considered as well as what ought to be done. To me, it does not seem likely that the Republican party will find a candidate of equal strength with General Grant. The uncontrollable logic of events points him out as our candidate, we must take him or take division, weakness and defeat. I have not committed my self to this view in my paper—but shall do so at no distant day, unless I get unexpected light to the contrary. I note what you say of General Grant’s nepotism. Since reading your letter, I have been at the pains of looking into the Diplomatic Service. The result is, to my mind, disastrous to your charge. I have before me the Tribune 1871. I commend to your attention page 43. You will there find the names of all our foreign ministers. I will not copy them here—but I think that I would respectfully you to that list list before you venture to repeat this Statement, that General Grant has promoted but one man, not a relation, in the diplomatic service. You astonish me beyond measure when you tell me that you cannot approve of Grant’s proscriptive course toward the defeated rebels. Great God! were ever rebels and traitors treated with equal unity? My dear Mr Clay there must be some mistake about this. You are a brave man and a generous man, but not even your generosity can exceed that which the Government has extended to our defeated slaveholding rebels of the South. I see no such surrender of personal liberty in the Ku Klux Bill as you see in it. A large discretion is given the president it is true. But what of that? You say that something must be trusted to the people in a Government like ours. That is true and wise. Equally true and wise is it, that in order to good government something must also be trusted to the public servants of the people. When Minister to Russia, you enjoyed a pretty large margin of discretion. I have no question that you used it wisely, and patriotically and would do so again. Power is easily abused—but when men are to be governed some body must have the power to govern. A cruel and brutal police officer will some times make it his office the means of gratifying his [???]. What then, shall we strip the office of power? But my dear Mr Clay, I did not mean to argue this question with you—and I will not. If Cassius M. Clay cannot set himself right any effort of mine by way of argument will be unavailing. I write simply in acknowledgement of your note. And in token of my old time respect for your great deeds in favor universal liberty and justice. Very truly yours Fredk Douglass. Hyde Park Mass Aug. 7. 1871 Mr. Douglass Dear Sir The inclosed circular to the citizens of Hyde Park, explains in part the special object of this letter. May I ask that you will read that first, & the written postscript annexed, before reading what follows herein? The newness of Hyde Park (now but three years old as a town,) with five thousand people, where, but a few years since, there was little besides thick-forested hills & rough pastures, has necessitated expenditures, greater in proportion to the means of its citizens, than in any other town of which I have knowledge. The larger outlays have been for opening, grading & other permanent improvements of streets, & for iron bridges over streams - more than Fifty Thousand Dollars. For a Fire Department with ingine-house, steam fire-engines & reservoirs for a Town- [*2370*]Hall, & for three school buildings, & their grounds, the town has appropriated nearly One Hundred & Thirty Thousand Dollars more. Add to this, the fact that, of the tax-payers resident in the town, more than one half pay only a poll-tax. Besides these town-expenditures, two of our religious societies have built churches within the last three years, & three others have purchased sites, & are preparing to build. It may be further stated, that our citizens generally are persons of moderate means, to whom the virtues of industry & economy are necessities. Very few persons in Hyde Park have the means of living without earning. Pressed upon as we are, by a rapidly increasing population, we have come to feel that a Free Public Library is one of our most vital needs, to be supplied as soon as possible. We trust that in view of these details, our request that you will give us a gratuitous lecture in aid of our Library Fund, will not be regarded by you as an impertinence. Please name any Monday evening, or if that be impracticable, any other that may be convenient, between [Sept.] Oct 1, 1871, & April 1, 1872. In behalf of the H. P. Library Board I am Dear Sir, Faithfully yours Theodore D. Weld Chairman Dear Mr Douglass, Learning that you are to be in Boston during the lecturing season, I venture to ask (though I confess with some misgiving) for a gratuitous lecture from you for the benefit of our LibraryHyde Park is 7 1/2 miles from Boston. The depot of the B. H. & Erie R.R. is five minutes walk from our house & that of the B&P R.R. twelve. My wife & her sister Miss Grenke join me in love, heartiest God-speed and congratulations to you in the hope that your leisure will admit of your spending at least a night with us. If you can come & cannot spend a night a car leaves every evening for Boston at 9-15. I am my dear friend ever faithfully yours Theodore D. WeldBridport Aug 18th 1871 My dear Mr. Douglass As Mr Carpenter has not filled his envelope I shall put in a line - especially also as when your lecturing season begins I suppose your letter receiving & reading season ends. - We should not know where to direct to you, & if we did you would be too busy to care for mere gosipping letters. I wish you did not live quite so much on the strain & in a rush, - it must take a great deal out of you, and, as you are not so young as you were, [you], like the rest [*2283*] [*once more so much and perhaps we might arrange to travel together a little in Switzerland or Germany which would be very charming. We are not leaving England this year so I think we probably shall next. Now do think of this & tell us what you think about it. Ever sincerely your friend Mary Carpenter*]of us can life afford to trifle with health. People are very apt to get knocked up and quite laid aside unless they give heed to warning syntoms which tells us plainly enough that at 50 we cannot with impunity do what we did at 25 or 30. My husband has had many such warnings within the last half dozen years - & have other members of his family, & I have noticed the same in many other cases. The more active a vigorous people are, or have been, the more difficult and painful it is to them to give up any of their accustomed work, - but I think it is a positive duty to do so - life is precious not only to oneself, but to those with whom one is nearly connected by relationship or friendship. - & I don't believe in people persisting to do as much as ever when they ought to be withdrawing from active work, & determining to think themselves as young as ever in spite of facts. - We cannot cheat nature, - & after middle life men must be content not do as much of the world's work themselves, but rather by their counsels and experience to help & encourage younger men to carry on what they have begun. I am very glad to hear what you say of your photograph looking ten years too old - not that I want you to look always young, that would not be fair to us who are growingsteadily older, - but as soon as I saw it I felt that you had aged more than the 12 or 13 years since we met would account for, unless, as was not unlikely, you had lived & worked enough for 20 years in the time, and the deep lines in the picture told the tale. If you have one of these photographs to spare I should much like to possess it and then I shall consider that it is the likeness of the future, & that you are half way between it & the very nice likeness we have of you wch. was taken in Glasgow about 12 years ago. No doubt you hear from Mrs Crofts oftener than I do. & know about her spirited plan of taking pupils - In a letter I hadPeterboro August 26 [18]71 My dear Douglass, I have received from your boys their Circular of 23rd inst. I have not the houses & land I once had. Nonetheless, I must do a little for this good digest, which they lay before me. Please hand them the enclosed draft. I prize your Paper. The Editorials of [this] paper are as wise & profound as those of your Paper. Are you ever coming to see me again? Do take me in your way between Washington & Rochester. In haste your friend Gerrit Smith Cape Haytien Sept. 6, 1871. F. Douglass, Esquire, Ed National Era. Washington D.C. Dear Sir: I have not received the greater part of my papers, conse- quently, I would beg of you to send them direct to Cape Haytien. I have not received the numbers containing your letters on Hayti. I received one number with your account of the eastern part, or San Domingo. Please have the kindness to send me the num- bers containing your visit to Hayti. I must have your views of this good country. With my kindest regards to your family, Believe me, 2284Dear Sir, Yours truly, Stanislas Goutier What steps are you taking to secure the reelection of Genl. Grant? You know my opinion of him. You know that I consider him far above Lincoln. He does not require to be led along by public opinion. I tell you one thing, Friend, Genl. Grant must be re-elected. You are worth 50,000 votes. I mean that you can influence at least that number. You must go among our people and persuade them to do what is right - to vote the right ticket. Impress them with this truth, that after 8 years of President Grant's administration, the national debt will be so much reduced that taxation will be considerably lighter. The country will become more prosperous, the south will be happy and united, ku-klanism will be forgotten, and we shall become a united people. Prejudice will have nearly disappeared in Government Offices, Courts, Churches, Theatres, in the Army & Navy, in the public schools, in Colleges, on Steamboats, Rail Roads and in Hotels. Let our people be made sensible of all the good that will be done to our country to our children, to ourselves by the reelection of Genl. Grant! Yours for the cause of humanity and the great Republican Party. S. Goutier. Washington D.C. Oct. 9th 1871 Dear Father, Your letter of 5th inst. I have just finished reading. To simply say thank you for the encouragement you give me in not pressing me for the principal of my indebtedness to you so long as I keep the interest paid up, and you not stand in immediate necessity for the amount, does not by far express my gratitude to you for what you are doing and have always done for me. I was saying to Fred, but two days ago that though the old citizens look upon us with a jealous eye, and watch closely our every movement, eager to detect an error that will be of use to them as against our progress, we have had encouragement enough from a father, that few young men have, to overcome almost every obstacle that [*2080*]3rd The loss you sustained in the Claggett affair is an outrage. I should never paid a cent of it without a suit, as it could have been clearly shown that they had received the benefit of the money you previously paid and not you. There certainly must be some law to protect a man from paying twice for the same thing. I should not go into the field this winter in poor health. It is not absolutely necessary, and to take such a risk in the face of ill health may prove disastrous. To break down in health now at your age is no trifling circumstance. It is remarkable that you have stood the storms so long. It is now time to haul off. can be thrown in our way provided we follow in the footsteps of your teaching. I enclose $60 one years interest. I shall soon send another $60 for one of the back years interest, and so along until I get my interest paid up. Since my return from Santo Domingo I have made a number of improvements on my place. I have gotten rid of the pony & carriage, and when you come to see me I shall be able to meet you at the cars with a rig that you wont be ashamed to ride in. I have a fine mare between 5 and 6 years old without a blemish and a good and fast traveller. My carriage is new, with two seats and top, and brand new harness. Come down and try it. If you would like to sell your single top buggy I may buy it or get Dr. Green to buy it as he is about buying a horse. I spoke of mothers coming down because I thought you would be away most all winter, and when you had leisure would drop down here. I should be happy if mother can come. I have made my house more comfortable than it has ever been before and I am anxious to entertain both yourself & mother once in my life without compensation. I mean by saying this no reflection on Lewis or Fred. All the pleasure I have to take in this world, is to be among my folks, and share with them whatever I have that can be made a pleasure to them. I can't get away any more this year, as I have consumed all my leave, and my new office, with home cares keep me now constantly employed, still I am seeking further employment. Love to all, Aff. your son, Chas. R. Douglass